Green Horn and it shows!

If the car is turning over, and if it sounds like it is firing until you release the key, the culprit is usually the ballast resistor. Located on the firewall. White, ceramic, with wires going in both ends. You can jump it to verify it runs, but dont keep it running without it.

If it is not firing at all, pop a sparkplug wire and (holding it with insulated pliers), hold it so the plug boot is almost touching the block (ground). When someone turns the car over, a spark should be jumping/arcing to ground. Then you know you have spark.

Of course, our cars are notorious for running out of gas and not correctly indicating it to us lol..

Grant